James Devenney

In recent years, there has been “fundamental” reform of core consumer law in the UK. Against the backdrop of the global financial crisis, this programme of reform was fuelled by a market-driven approach to consumer law: confident consumers were viewed as key ingredients to the efficient functioning of the market and the development of the economy. The centrepiece of the resulting reforms is the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Unfortunately drafting issues haunt the Act; and the Law Commission have already called for a significant amendment. This chapter will explore these criticisms, highlighting the complexity created. It will explore the policy aims of the Act arguing that whilst many of the policy aims undoubtedly make good political sound bites, some of them were insufficiently formulated. Indeed, this chapter will question the extent to which the strategies adopted by the Act have, or indeed could have, achieved the stated policy aims.